Walsh Imposes New Rules For City Employees And Marijuana Business

BOSTON — If you or your family work for the City of Boston and you were thinking of getting involved in a marijuana business? Think again. Mayor Marty Walsh signed an executive order prohibiting City of Boston employees or their immediate family members from "participating in" a marijuana business that is currently seeking, or intends to seek, an approval from the City of Boston or its agencies.

"I am committed to ensuring this new industry is fair, transparent, and equitable for all who wish to participate in it," said Walsh in a statement. "My Administration works closely with businesses and applicants to make sure they get the support they need, and neighborhoods have a voice in the process. This executive order will create a new standard for city employees and remove potential conflicts of interest that may arise as the City continues its work to develop and implement the growing cannabis industry."

The move comes after the arrest of Fall River's mayor on charges that he pocketed hundreds of thousands of dollars from cannabis companies in exchange for letting them set up shop in his town. The local system in Massachusetts, argue advocates and legislators alike, is prime for abuse, and point to Fall River as a prime example.

It's often a single official who decides whether a marijuana business can set up shop in a municipality or oversees the community host agreements businesses are required by law to set up.

State Senator Julian Cyr has proposed a bill that would transfer the oversight of payments to the state Cannabis Control Commission.

In addition to city employees and family members, no member of the Zoning Board of Appeal, the Boston Licensing Board, the Boston Public Health Commission, the Boston Zoning Commission, the Boston Planning and Development Agency, or their immediate family members, may "participate in" a marijuana business that is currently seeking, or intends to seek, an approval from the City of Boston or its agencies, according to the mayor's office.

The order directs the Office of Economic Development and city officials who grant approval during the process to "consider the participation of any City employee, or their immediate family members, in a marijuana business to be a negative factor that supports denial of approval of that business," according to the mayor's office.

The City of Boston also now mandates cannabis applicants complete a Beneficial Interest Form so that an applicant's business, personal and capital interests are disclosed. Any fudging there could lead to a license revocation.

Related:

Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia Pleads Not Guilty To More Charges

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).